Fun[ish] 2008+ JDM saloons and estates?

[BUG4LIFE]

As I'm sure we all do, I'm already looking into what car to buy next. I'm not planning to sell my Jag STR for a good number of years but I can't help look at what I might like next

Chances are I'll go back to a Japanese car, as I like the 'scene' etc, and loved my previous Integra and Forester STi.

Just wanted to get a list together of potential cars, to spend hours researching online [it's something to do isn't it]. Brief is saloon, estate or SUV [maybe hatchback], more than likely an auto, newer than 2008, a decent chunk of performance, under £15k all in.

So far I've got on my list...

- Subaru Legacy; I'm a big fan of the 4th gen but as my brief says 2008+, I think I'd be looking at the performance versions of the 5th gen.

- Subaru Forester SH; unfortunately there isn't an STi of the SH Forester. I see the JDM XT has 230bhp[ish] but I think there's a 260bhp S-Edition. Not sure how tunable these are, to up the performance [as per the SG STi Foz I owned]. Torque GT have an XT in at the mo https://www.torque-gt.co.uk/forester-xt-120122.htm...

- Lexus LS460; I'd love the continue the V8 vibe. The 460 might be a good bet as it isn't as complex as the 600h? Obviously I could get a UK car, though I wonder how the Jap LS's differ? The increased rear seat space would be handy, having two growing kids!

So what else? What obscure JDM cars have I missed?

Edited by BUG4LIFE on Tuesday 25th January 15:28

[mersontheperson]

Good news!

I am selling my s-edition soon



Otherwise there was a levorg with the EJ25 engine as well I think

[mersontheperson]

[samoht]

Toyota Mark X (V6 rwd saloon) - second gen 2009-19, 2.5, 3.0 or 3.5 V6
Lexus GS - there is a GS460 with the V8, but it's rare https://www.goo-net-exchange.com/usedcars/LEXUS/GS... otherwise the GS430 or one of the later GS450h V6 hybrids.
Lexus RX400h
Nissan Skyline 350GT (V36)
Nissan Fuga - V8 available on the older Y50 to '09
Infiniti FX50 https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111059... (very rare in RHD)
Toyota Century - why make do with a V8 when you can make good with a V12? https://www.goo-net-exchange.com/usedcars/TOYOTA/C...

[mersontheperson]

A late model Stagea would be good as well, the 3.0 or 2.5 turbo which have similar performance

[TommoAE86]

samoht said:

Toyota Mark X (V6 rwd saloon) - second gen 2009-19, 2.5, 3.0 or 3.5 V6
Lexus GS - there is a GS460 with the V8, but it's rare https://www.goo-net-exchange.com/usedcars/LEXUS/GS... otherwise the GS430 or one of the later GS450h V6 hybrids.
Lexus RX400h
Nissan Skyline 350GT (V36)
Nissan Fuga - V8 available on the older Y50 to '09
Infiniti FX50 https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111059... (very rare in RHD)
Toyota Century - why make do with a V8 when you can make good with a V12? https://www.goo-net-exchange.com/usedcars/TOYOTA/C...

Don't forget Toyota Crown's loads of choice as various prices... 2008+ 13th gen has no dash cracks, could get lucky and bag a Supercharged GRS204 one for maximum fun - this one is £10.4k at a dealer in Japan.



I am biased as I love my 12th gen one , and without the SC it'll do 0-62mph in 4.9 and is not too shabby in the corners

[Zerosumgame]

2012 Legacy GT 2.0 DIT

[BUG4LIFE]

mersontheperson said:

Good news!

I am selling my s-edition soon



Otherwise there was a levorg with the EJ25 engine as well I think

Yeah, I like the look of your S-Edition...however, as mentioned, I'll be keeping my current Jag for a good few years, but always enjoy researching into what to get next! Tell me more about your Foz [space, performance etc].

I do like the idea of a Levorg too. There's a GT-S and STi with near 300bhp I believe.

mersontheperson said:

A late model Stagea would be good as well, the 3.0 or 2.5 turbo which have similar performance

I do like the Stagea, though I'd probably lean towards the newer cars. I bet the faster versions of these hold their price too?

TommoAE86 said:

Don't forget Toyota Crown's loads of choice as various prices... 2008+ 13th gen has no dash cracks, could get lucky and bag a Supercharged GRS204 one for maximum fun - this one is £10.4k at a dealer in Japan.



I am biased as I love my 12th gen one , and without the SC it'll do 0-62mph in 4.9 and is not too shabby in the corners

Oh wow, that would be a left field choice! I do like it though - did they make estates by any chance?!

Zerosumgame said:

2012 Legacy GT 2.0 DIT

Ah ok. Just looked these up and see Subaru replaced the 2.5 with the 2.0 DIT [and torque converter to CVT] with the 2012+ Legacy. As long as the CVT was ok to drive, I could certainly see one of these on my driveway.

[TommoAE86]

BUG4LIFE said:

Oh wow, that would be a left field choice! I do like it though - did they make estates by any chance?!

No Crown's made in estate form after the 11th Gen which was 2000 - 2007 though this model did come with the 1JZ-GTE (from the top of the mk3 Supra tree) and maintains good performance.

If you're desperate for an estate then have a play with and see what comes up, Goo-Net - can spit some odd stuff out... like an Atenza sport wagon - which is a Mazda6 Estate with 4WD and 4cy turbo 2.5l engine... is abit slow to 60 though (9 seconds ). I would probably stick with the Subaru's.

[Zerosumgame]

This looks fantastic....what is the chassis code? I don't think I have ever even seen one of these for sale in the UK

mersontheperson said:

Good news!

I am selling my s-edition soon



Otherwise there was a levorg with the EJ25 engine as well I think

[mersontheperson]

TommoAE86 said:

BUG4LIFE said:

Oh wow, that would be a left field choice! I do like it though - did they make estates by any chance?!

If you're desperate for an estate then have a play with and see what comes up, Goo-Net - can spit some odd stuff out... like an Atenza sport wagon - which is a Mazda6 Estate with 4WD and 4cy turbo 2.5l engine... is abit slow to 60 though (9 seconds ). I would probably stick with the Subaru's.

This is a great shout Tommo

Mazda also do the CX-8 , a CX-5 on steroids, with some versions having the 2.5 liter turbo, that’s what I will be buying as the family wagon when I sell the Subaru

[mersontheperson]

Zerosum, it’s an SH9, they did a full fat TS version with a manual box, and a slightly restricted S-edition without the suspension modifications with an auto box with paddle shifters. That’s what I have

Bob Rawle is remapping it in a few weeks, and then I am fitting my blitz coil-overs I brought back with me from Japan

[Axeboy]

The "normal" TS and S Edition have 263ps (CBA-SH9) but there was also a TS 300 model, limited run of 300 with 276hp (the later DBA-SJG)

The 2012 on models can be had with the 276hp FA20 on the normal 2.0 XT models too, all autos though I believe


On another note there is the Lexus GS460, relatively common in Japan and quite cheap. The bonus is parts are easy to get as its a model you can (rarely) get here. Likewise, we have a 5th Gen Legacy 2.5 GT Wagon and its great although I'm not a fan of the auto box. Again, cheap in Japan, autos are plentiful and manuals a bit more of course, same as most subarus. The Legacy 5th gen is pretty great from an all rounder to be fair. It doesnt look very big but somehow seems to manage to have tons of space.

Edited by Axeboy on Monday 31st January 21:37

[Jim on the hill]

mersontheperson said:

Zerosum, it’s an SH9, they did a full fat TS version with a manual box, and a slightly restricted S-edition without the suspension modifications with an auto box with paddle shifters. That’s what I have

Bob Rawle is remapping it in a few weeks, and then I am fitting my blitz coil-overs I brought back with me from Japan

Would love to know what it's like after. Bob Rawle did my FSTI

[RedAndy]

I didnt read your list of needs/wants so it may not fit, but it is an intersting car: Toyota Caldina ST246 in N-Spec flavour.

[TommoAE86]

RedAndy said:

I didnt read your list of needs/wants so it may not fit, but it is an intersting car: Toyota Caldina ST246 in N-Spec flavour.

Oooh you're right I'd forgotten about them, there's also a GT-Four spec;

GT-Four N Edition


Mark X Zio has a slightly detuned version of the 3.5V6 in my Crown


Mega Cruiser you won't want for space or road presence again

[trails]

I've got an 140k 04 Forester XT and am probably going to swap it for one of these...



It's the Outback XT Limited, JDM were all auto, US were lucky and got the 5 speed gearbox too.

Pretty rare in Japan too, especially if you want heated seats.

Info all stolen from UK Legacy forums.

[S100HP]

You might be able to get a levorg GT in budget.

[BUG4LIFE]

TommoAE86 said:

No Crown's made in estate form after the 11th Gen which was 2000 - 2007 though this model did come with the 1JZ-GTE (from the top of the mk3 Supra tree) and maintains good performance.

If you're desperate for an estate then have a play with and see what comes up, Goo-Net - can spit some odd stuff out... like an Atenza sport wagon - which is a Mazda6 Estate with 4WD and 4cy turbo 2.5l engine... is abit slow to 60 though (9 seconds ). I would probably stick with the Subaru's.

Ah yeah, that Mazda wouldn't have the performance I'd 'need'!! Subaru do have most of the options I reckon.

Axeboy said:

The "normal" TS and S Edition have 263ps (CBA-SH9) but there was also a TS 300 model, limited run of 300 with 276hp (the later DBA-SJG)

The 2012 on models can be had with the 276hp FA20 on the normal 2.0 XT models too, all autos though I believe


On another note there is the Lexus GS460, relatively common in Japan and quite cheap. The bonus is parts are easy to get as its a model you can (rarely) get here. Likewise, we have a 5th Gen Legacy 2.5 GT Wagon and its great although I'm not a fan of the auto box. Again, cheap in Japan, autos are plentiful and manuals a bit more of course, same as most subarus. The Legacy 5th gen is pretty great from an all rounder to be fair. It doesnt look very big but somehow seems to manage to have tons of space.

Edited by Axeboy on Monday 31st January 21:37

I do like the Lexus GS, though I think I'd be more tempted by the bigger LS, if budget allowed.

Jim on the hill said:

mersontheperson said:

Zerosum, it’s an SH9, they did a full fat TS version with a manual box, and a slightly restricted S-edition without the suspension modifications with an auto box with paddle shifters. That’s what I have

Bob Rawle is remapping it in a few weeks, and then I am fitting my blitz coil-overs I brought back with me from Japan

Would love to know what it's like after. Bob Rawle did my FSTI

Yeah, keep us updated. My previous FSTi was also mapped by Rob [before I bought it].

trails said:

I've got an 140k 04 Forester XT and am probably going to swap it for one of these...



It's the Outback XT Limited, JDM were all auto, US were lucky and got the 5 speed gearbox too.

Pretty rare in Japan too, especially if you want heated seats.

Info all stolen from UK Legacy forums.

Oh yes please. One of those would be pretty perfect. I like the idea of a higher-up estate. I'll have to have a look what year them made these too.

S100HP said:

You might be able to get a levorg GT in budget.

Yep, a Levorg has been mentioned. Good choice I reckon, especially in a few years as they get a little older and a little cheaper. I wonder where STi's are priced at the moment?

[mersontheperson]

Aren’t the Levorgs all CVT? That always put me off